'No-refusal' operation yields 4 DUI arrests in Kane County

Four people were arrested during a Halloween-related DUI crackdown, and another enforcement action is set for the night before Thanksgiving, Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said today.

McMahon’s office reported the arrests were made during a “no-refusal” crackdown conducted the weekend of Oct. 27 by police in the St. Charles, Batavia and Geneva areas, as well as by sheriff’s officers and Illinois State police.

During the no-refusal periods authorities have prosecutors and judges on call to draft and sign search warrants to be served on suspected drunken drivers who have declined to give a breath sample. By law, motorists face license suspensions for refusing to cooperate, but many choose to do so when the alternative is giving blood or breath evidence that shows impairment, authorities say.

Police did not have to serve warrants on any of the four arrested; three complied and the fourth, though initially refusing to provide sample, did so when told he would be served with a warrant, McMahon said.

The four showed blood-alcohol levels ranging from .10 to .290 – more than three times the legal limit of .08 in Illinois.

McMahon said police would be back out on the roads the night of Wednesday, Nov. 21, to conduct another no-refusal crackdown.

“Our goal is zero DUI arrests. That means people are being responsible. But we are pleased that we were able to get BAC samples from everyone charged, and we are pleased that four intoxicated drivers were removed from the roadways,” McMahon said.